Pollard pulls it off for WI in 2nd ODI

published by Media on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 14:26

KINGSTOWN,
St. Vincent – To the delight of a capacity crowd, Kieron Pollard curbed his
natural instincts, gathering 47 not out to anchor West Indies to a series-levelling,
five-wicket victory over Australia in the second One-day International on
Sunday.

The
rugged all-rounder struck four sixes from 61 balls, as West Indies successfully
chased a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 158 in the match reduced to 40
overs-a-side at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground.

Pollard
added a valuable 64 for the fifth wicket with compatriot Dwayne Bravo that put
West Indies firmly on course for their first victory in 14 ODIs against the Australians spread over five years.

Bravo
was run out for 30 in the 34th over with 20 required before wicketkeeper/batsman
Carlton Baugh Jr formalised the victory with 10 balls remaining, when he swung
a delivery from left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty high over mid-wicket onto the
adjoining netball courts for six.

The
result meant that West Indies levelled the five-match series 1-1, after losing
the first Digicel ODI by 64 runs last Friday at the same venue.

The
third Digicel ODI will be played at this same venue on Tuesday with the series
coming to a conclusion with two matches next Friday and Sunday at the
Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.

The
crucial victory for West Indies came following a career-best spell from Sunil
Narine, after the Aussies were sent in to bat on a slow pitch.

The
mohawk-shaven off-spinner collected four wickets for 27 runs from his allotment
of eight overs to earn the Man-of-the-Match award and Kemar Roach supported
with two for 23 from his eight overs, as the visitors were restricted to 154
for nine.

Steady,
if not troublesome bowling from West Indies again made scoring tough for Australia's batsmen, as several of them got starts
without carrying on – David Hussey led the way with 37, Shane Watson scored 25,
Mike Hussey made 24 and George Bailey got 21.

But
West Indies suffered an immediate setback to their chase, when left-handed
opener Kieran Powell was adjudged lbw for a first-ball duck, offering a no
stroke to a well-pitched delivery from Brett Lee.

Marlon
Samuels added 42 for the second wicket with Johnson Charles to put West Indies
on course before Australian captain Shane Watson, bowling his stiff medium-pace,
bowled him for 20 in the 11th over.

Charles
looked in fine touch – a glance to fine leg off Brett Lee got him into
stride and a six over long-on off the same bowler was equally majestic – but he
was run out for 26 in the 16th over, failing to beat Lee’s throw from third man to Daniel
Christian at the bowler’s end.

The
younger Bravo played a couple of classy drives through extra cover, bringing
the crowd to its feet, before he played down the wrong line to a delivery from Doherty and was bowled for 16 in the 19th over with 84 still
required.

Pollard
joined the elder Bravo and defied the Aussies, mixing aggressive
stroke-play and running between the wickets with sound defence.

Typically,
Pollard gave the crowd a glimpse of his world-renowned big-hitting – one off
Doherty sailed over the top of the Mike Findlay Stand and threatened any
aircraft that might have attempted to land or take-off at the neighbouring E.T.
Joshua Airport.

Their
running between the wickets had been unquestionable until they failed to
communicate effectively, looking for a single to silly point off Watson, and a retreating Bravo failed to beat wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s direct hit.

Baugh
came to the crease and with Pollard ushered West Indies over the finish line,
to the glee of the crowd that were granted a national holiday by Prime
Minister Ralph Gonsalves on Tuesday to offer similar support to the Maroon
Warriors.

Earlier,
rain delayed the start by half-hour and Australia reached 16 for one from five
overs before a deluge stopped play for an hour and 40 minutes, reducing the contest
to a 40 overs-a-side affair.

Roach
snared two wickets to give West Indies a bright start after the interruption, making the breakthrough when he bowled David Warner for 13 in the
seventh over. The diminutive, left-handed opener played back and across to a
well-pitched delivery that kept low.

Four
balls later, Roach struck again, when Peter Forrest was caught at second slip
for a duck groping at a delivery outside the off-stump, wobbling Australia on
19 for two.

West
Indies captain Darren Sammy struck in his third over, when he had Watson caught
at mid-wicket, whipping a low full toss – an attempted slower delivery – leaving
the Aussies 46 for three in the 15th over.

Sammy
saw Kieron Pollard put down Mike Hussey, on eight, at backward point off his
bowling and the Australia left-hander brought some stability to his side’s
innings with a stand of 31 for the fourth wicket with younger brother David.

Narine
tightened West Indies’ grip, when the elder Hussey was caught behind, edging a
loose drive at a well-flighted delivery.

West
Indies met resistance from a budding fifth-wicket stand between the younger
Hussey and Bailey before the elder Bravo made the breakthrough.

Bravo
had Bailey caught at backward point in the 31st over before Australia again
lost a cluster of wickets – three to Narine – in the last 10 overs chasing
quick runs to boost their total.